Page:Indian Medicinal Plants (Text Part 2).djvu/631

awn-like, enclosing the three spikelets pales 2 lower one firm, 5-ribbed rounded on the back and ending in a long stiff awn rough with forward prickles lower pale a little smaller than the upper bifid-2-veins and with the margins inflexed Lodicules 2 entense hardy stamens 3 exserted ovary hardy on top. Stigmas 2-feathers Fruit (the grain) usually with the pales adherent to it.

Uses : — Barley is demulcent, and easy of digestion, and is for these reasons much used in the dietary of the sick. In India sattu, or powder of the parched grains, is much employed in the form of a gruel in cases of painful and atonic dyspepsia. In European practice, Barley water, a decoction of the grain, is principally prescribed, and is valuable in cases requiring demulcent treatment. Dr. Irvine states that in Patna the ashes of the leaf are employed in the formation of cooling sherbets ; and Stewart writes that the ashes of the stalks are prescribed for indigestion in the plains of the Panjub. Preparations of malt have acquired some reputation of late years in Europe and America, since they are more demulcent and nutritious than those of the unmalted barley. Malt extract may be prepared by boiling two to four ounces of the germinated and dried grain in a quart of water and straining. When hops are added, the decoction becomes wort, and acquires tonic properties, which have been found especially valuable in cases of debility following on long continued chronic suppuration.

Syn. : — B. orientalis, Nees ; Arundo bambos, Linn. ;

Sans. : — Vansa, kichaka.

Vern. : — Bâns, kattang, magar bâns, nâl bans (H) ; Bâns, behur bâns (B.) ; Buâh ( Ass.) ; Katanga (Kol.) ; Mat (Santali) ; Wah-kanteh (Garo.) Bariala (Chittagong) ; Magar, nâl (Pb.); Wâns (Guz.); Kalak, padai (Konkan) ; Vas (Panch Mahals); Mand gay (Bomb.) ; Bhâns, chânsâ, bambu (Duk.) ; Kati wadûr